An Era of Restraint in Health Care Spending in Canada

 The question is whether the current decline represents a permanent bending of the health care cost curve or a temporary pause In the wake of new health expenditure data from the Canadian Institute for Health Information (CIHI), the evidence continues to mount that Canadian public health expenditure growth is moderating.

Defending workers’ rights while advocating for a new approach

 How do we determine value in Ontario? This question typically drives the development of economic policy, but in today’s Ontario, it also frames labour relations. If one were to listen to some politicians, lobby groups and thinktanks, one would assume that workers in this province were overpaid, underworked and slacking

FIFA Women’s World Cup: An Ottawa Team Story

 All photos courtesy of FIFA Women's World Cup Canada 2015 and Canada Soccer The weather outside was frightfully cold. The weather inside was delightfully toasty. Still, Thailand women’s national team soccer coach Nuengrutai Srathongvian had her fluffy brown winter jacket zipped up tight as she answered questions following a training site

When it Comes to Pipeline Safety, Collaboration Matters

 When it comes to protecting the environment, people and communities, pipeline companies are choosing to work together. The Canadian Energy Pipeline Association (CEPA) established the Integrity First® program. Members actively work together to not only define and implement best practices, but to also challenge each other to improve overall operations.

The Canadian Doctor Who Prescribes Income to Treat Poverty

 By Trudy Lieberman Last fall when I visited Canada, I met a Toronto doctor named Gary Bloch who developed a poverty tool for medical practitioners. The tool assesses what patients might need other than prescriptions for the newest drugs. Bloch's idea was to zoom in on the social determinants of

Canada’s Sports Hall of Fame Profile: Horst Bulau

 In honour of the recent Canada’s Sports Hall of Fame 2014 Induction Celebrations presented by Canadian Tire on October 22, OLM will be featuring inductees—recent and historic—in a weekly Canada’s Sports Hall of Fame Profile piece. Canada’s Sports Hall of Fame aims to share the stories and achievements of Honoured

Disegno Fine Jewellery: The Essence of Design

 Pamela Coulston is the owner of Disegno Fine Jewellery,  launched in 1992. In Italian “disegno” means more than just “design.” The word also suggests the ability to envision a design and execute the drawing. At the heart of this notion is the discovery of fresh concepts, often from unexpected sources;.

’Tis the Season for Handel

 More than 250 years after its completion, George Frideric Handel’s joyous Messiah continues to be appreciated by audiences around the world. Coming to the capital region this holiday season, Finest Moments from Messiah will be presented by the combined effort of the Ottawa Classical Choir and the New World Philharmonic

Federal Government Moves to Strip Power from Top Public Health Scientist

 Demoting Chief Public Health Officer more about politics than promoting health Buried in the current omnibus budget bill being studied by parliament this week is a plan to demote the Chief Public Health Officer of Canada. He will no longer hold a deputy minister rank, he will have no direct

Private Delivery of Healthcare Can Work in a Publically Funded System but Comes with Risks

 What the rest of Canada can learn from Alberta’s experience If you look at an old map of Canadian healthcare policy, just near Privatization Island is a big warning: “Here be dragons.” So it proved for Alberta Health Services last month when a seemingly innocuous decision—to swap the tender for

Have You Had a Glass of this Year’s Beaujolais Nouveau?

 The third Thursday of November is a milestone date in the wine world – wine stores have a special delivery of Beaujolais Nouveau wine. What is all the fuss about? Beaujolais Nouveau or ‘first wine’ is wine made from grapes that were picked in the most recent harvest.  By the

Canada’s Sports Hall of Fame Profile: Elizabeth Manley

 In honour of the recent Canada’s Sports Hall of Fame 2014 Induction Celebrations presented by Canadian Tire on October 22, OLM will be featuring inductees—recent and historic—in a weekly Canada’s Sports Hall of Fame Profile piece. Canada’s Sports Hall of Fame aims to share the stories and achievements of Honoured

Nipissing University Provides Quality Education to First Nations Communities

 It is frequently forgotten access to learning and high-quality teaching is not available for everyone in Canada. The education provided for Aboriginal children is just one example of a group with limited access. Their level of education is well below that of other Canadian children. The high school graduation rate

Health in all Policies Approach Gaining Traction Across Political Spectrum in Canada

 By Danyaal Raza and Ryan Meili When counselling patients on health, physicians often focus on lifestyle changes such as diet, exercise or smoking. This kind of advice can be important for the individual, but does little to change underlying drivers of health like income, education and employment. These factors are

Evoking Memories on Parliament Hill: The War of 1812

 The War of 1812 Monument on Parliament Hill was inaugurated this November by the Honourable Shelly Glover, Minister of Canadian Heritage and Official Languages, and Toronto artist Adrienne Alison to commemorate the 200th anniversary of the War of 1812. “This new landmark on Parliament Hill will forever remind us of

Publisher’s Message: Gone Too Soon

 Two things I really love in life are playing pickup hockey with my pals and working at the magazine. The past couple of months have seen sad events on both counts. Harvey Chartrand, a longtime editor of Ottawa Life Magazine passed away suddenly last month. Harvey was a funny, gentle

The Coalition of Ottawa Arts and Sciences

 It goes without saying, the National Capital Region is full of cultural life. Thriving institutions have been developed in the area to promote and preserve Canada’s arts and sciences including the National Arts Centre, the Museum of History and four universities. There are also numerous operations dealing with special interest

Art Exhibit Showcases Grandeur of Local Environment

 Inspired by nature, award-winning Ottawa artist Margaret Chwialkowska will be featuring her solo exhibition “Gatineau Sublime” at the Galerie Old Chelsea from December 4 to December 31. Ever since Chwialkowska moved to Canada from Poland in 1979, she has been overwhelmed by the natural beauty of North American landscapes. Capturing the magic

Nordstrom Pre-Gala Celebration

 Photo courtesy of John Smith You could feel the excitement at the pre-gala party held at LAGO Bar for the soon-to-be-opened Nordstrom store at the Rideau Centre. It was a night of celebration and recognition of the two charities that will benefit from the gala scheduled for Wednesday, March 4th.

Naturopathic and Conventional Medicine Team Up to Fight Cancer

 The Ottawa Integrative Cancer Centre (OICC) and the Ottawa Hospital Research Institute (OHRI) have been given a $3.85 million research grant to look into the effects of naturopathic medicine combined with conventional medicine. The two Ottawa-based institutions will be researching the effectiveness of different types of medicines used in conjunction with one

Youth on the Streets: Anything but Hopeless

 Kevin Belisle begs for money and attention. He sits on Bank Street, holding a carton that reads, “Extremely hungry. Please help.” In his backpack: high school equivalency, a criminal record and a dirty jacket. Homeless Kevin Belisle, 23, asks the government for a job, so he doesn’t have to beg

Dr. GM Geldert: A Pioneer of Radio Broadcasting

 Laudreville Daytime C.K.C.O. Studio, Somerset Street Ottawa native Shirley Shorter recalls a time when Canadian radio broadcasting was no more complex than a local talent performance airing live from the dining room of her Somerset Street West home. A recent interview with Mrs. Shorter, now 94-years-old, captures a period in

Why does Canada’s Innovation Government Funding Support not Working?

 By Ronald J. Pickett In spite of significant tax incentives from many levels of government, Canada continues to lag its Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) peer countries in innovation performance. The Conference Board of Canada report concludes the following: • Despite a decade or so of innovation agendas

Maplelea: Empowering the Canadian Girl

 Looking for the perfect gift for the young Canadian girl in your life? Discover the wonderful world of Maplelea dolls. Maplelea, the Newmarket-based company founded by Kathryn Morton in 2003, aims to make a difference in the lives of Canadian girls. By providing dolls that promote creativity, encourage a healthy

Canada’s Sports Hall of Fame Profile: Kathy Shields

 In honour of the recent Canada’s Sports Hall of Fame 2014 Induction Celebrations presented by Canadian Tire on October 22, OLM will be featuring inductees—recent and historic—in a weekly Canada’s Sports Hall of Fame Profile piece. Canada’s Sports Hall of Fame aims to share the stories and achievements of Honoured